ISICNAICS

ISICNAICS refers to a crosswalk or mapping framework between the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). It provides correspondence tables that allow users to translate industry classifications from ISIC to NAICS and vice versa, enabling comparability of economic statistics across international and national data sets. The ISIC framework, maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division, offers a global standard for classifying economic activities, while NAICS, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau, offers a more detailed structure used in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Crosswalks or ISICNAICS mappings are produced by statistical agencies, research institutions, or international organizations to support data harmonization when sources adopt different systems. They typically include several mapping types: one-to-one, many-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many, with guidance on precision and recommended aggregation levels.

Common applications include multinational economic analysis, international trade statistics, comparative research, and corporate benchmarking. They also support translating indicators such as production, employment, revenue, and value added across classifications. Limitations arise from definitional differences, revisions, and varying levels of detail, which can require aggregation, disaggregation, or careful selection of proxies. When using ISICNAICS mappings, users should record the version, revision, and methodology and be mindful of potential measurement errors.